Honest Geauga Lake review Part II

I went to GL for the first time in over ten years (The Wave and the skyride were still there). I see some good things for the park under Cedar Fair. I did experience some great employees and some that down right suck (mainly in food service).

Good experiences:

- One guy who was running the "Black Squid" gave my daughter a stuffed animal that was left behind. This was nice.

- My first time on a B&M floorless. The ride opp let me choose where I sat. I liked it, I wish CP would replace the Mantis trains with Flooreless.

- The second guy running the hids turtle kids game really looked at the number on the turtle and gave to proper prize. (Please wait for the bad experience for to explane the first one).

Bad experiences:

-Only Ride Opp complaint. There was not much checking on restraints.

- The First Turtle game person was not even reading the number, just giving the smallest prize. Many people were not happy with this and she had a "I do not give a **** attitude". (Fire this person, I wished I got her name). We waited until she was off to let our daughter play the game.

- Turkey legs in WWK. Do they really have them? The guy running this kept telling me they will have some in a couple of minutes. 3 hours later no turkey legs. I asked when will they be here. The response is great: My boy who is getting them musta hooked up, I dano when they be here" THIS IS NOT A TYPO.

- The WWK main eatery. I got a couple of pieces of pizza. I was a little hungry and waiting for their slow %$# to get the orders in front me done (after the Turjey legs were no were in sight). After a couple of minutes I took a bite of my pizza. I had one of the guys in the back say "Sh*T look at this boy he can not wait to get out of here to eat, This boy be hungry" This was loud and he was interacting with other guest. Saying things to them to. Very un professional. I was a little shocked and did not get his name. He was a complete ass and should never be put in front of any guest. I will see him again though and then file my complaint.

All in All GL can become a great park. I loved the Proslide Tornado. RWB is starting to look good. The Villian, I never wanted off of a coaster before this one. It was a major let down with pain (Can they sooth it out?). I loved X-Flight and Dominator. I hope that fliers advance beyond the layout of X-Flight though (B&M I heard are doing a good job at this.).

Jeff or Walt:

Please forwad my response to GL or CF Mgmt. I have no problem giving more details if needed. We were going to go there during the halloween season, but are staying local at Kennywood this year, because of our experience.

Date attended = June 22, 2005

Thanks

Don't worry, they read this stuff from time to time.

Yeah, "they" might read "this stuff" from time to time. But don't count on them acting on suggestions. I could give many examples, but won't.

That would be too easy.

MrScott
*** Edited 7/23/2005 2:14:16 PM UTC by MrScott***

You just don't get it.

You just don't get it.

MrScott
*** Edited 7/23/2005 2:45:51 PM UTC by MrScott***

Guest feedback is very important to the park, so YES, they do read this stuff. Our management wants to know what you think. I like to know what you think. Heck, if I see something that is worthy of Bill seeing, I tell him about it when I see him.

Anyway, off to work at Cedar Fair's best run park...
(Remember, Bill Spehn is our general manager, and he is the operations master.)

-Sam

Mr. Scott, please accept the fact that you were wrong and just move on in life. Anywat, I havent been to the park yet this year. How is the water park this year compared to last year ?

I'll admit, guest feedback is somewhat important to management. But, ONE person's opinion's does not. I'll stand by that til the day I die.

MrScott

Sean stay out of other peoples buisness.

CP4eva, I came to this thread to read about Geauga Lake and how it is improving. Not to hear people argue.

I sure hate reading that The Villain is a rough ride. Two years ago I loved the many rides we got on it. It was a little rough, but the thrills negated that. It doesn't sound like that's the case this season. :(

MrScott: can you dispassionately describe what your point is? These snarky one-liners aren't really helping me see it. Is it that you believe that CF shouldn't/doesn't listen to Jeff (why not?), or that you are annoyed that CF hasn't listened to you? (what happened?)

Otherwise, you two are just going to have to meet behind the school gym, and despite Gwen Stefani's middle-aged love letter to high school catfights, that's just not giong to be pretty.

I completely agree. Get to the point.

I see Mr.Scott's point and I see Jeff's but thats there fight not ours.

What fight is there? You know what Spehn said to me after he showed me that former Guess-Your-Weight? He said he could walk down that midway and show me 30 things they've changed based on guest feedback.

Apparently lots of "one persons" opinions do count.

A few years ago I complained on GTTP about the absolutely ****ty attitude I was met with at CP's Ripcord. I never said anything to guest relations at the park, I never sent an angry email... nothing but post my experience on the forums.

Sure enough, just a few days later, the crew was posting on the board yelling at me because it was my fault that they got a talking to by the folks in Park Ops.

Jeff's opinion is the only one that counts when important people read this stuff? Right.

[edit: Left out an important word]

*** Edited 7/24/2005 12:34:06 AM UTC by Michael Darling***

Ok Jeff "Disagreement" You knew what I meant.

There is no "fight" or "disagreement". Just opinion.

MrScott
*** Edited 7/24/2005 1:32:32 AM UTC by MrScott***

What I can honestly say on this subject is that without listening to concerns, questions, and complaints you're not going to have a buisness that generates any capital at all. Having worked under SF inc, and Cedar Fair I can definitly see a night and day difference between the actual quality and just plain guest awareness. I can't tell you how many guests Ive chatted with and their reaction was for the most part "Wow, I havent been here in two years, and this place is so much better than I remembered". I actually make it a point while actually in the park to talk to guests and ask them if they are having a good day, or how they're feeling. If they have a concern, I try to figure out a way to help them with the concern and if I am not able to, I talk to someone who may be able to do so. If one persons opinion matters to me, its definitly going to matter to more. Overall however I have heard very little negativity from our guests and that makes me happy. When you really take the time to think about how you would feel in the shoes of an unhappy guest, or person for that matter, it really gives you some perspective on how someone could feel that way. Im not actually out in the park much, but when I am, I go out of my way to ensure 3 things, 1. Midways free of trash. 2. I make sure to have at least 10-20 guest interactions on the way to and from the break area. 3. To be aware of guest needs, such as, and not limited to, directions to certain locations, picture taking. People appreciate these things. It doesnt really matter if Im seen doing this, thats not why I do those things because I know its all really part of the greater good of the park. I care about the guests, and the park.. I know for certain Im not the only one. You can always make somebody leave the gate at the end of the night, even if its just ONE person, feel good about their day.

Well said. I hope there are others who feel the same way.